Typewriter type-bar guide



1947. R. F. GORDON TYPEWRITER TYPE-BAR GUIDE Filed Nov. 6, 1945 FIG. 2.,

1 m i d Patented Dec. 9, 1947 Application November 6, 1945, Serial No. 626,950 In Great Britain November 29, 1944 2 Claims.

The usual type-bar guide in a type-writer for ensuring horizontal accuracy of spacing of the type printing consists of a V-shaped notch into which the head of the type-bar enters at the moment of printing, and it is found that either from Want of proper adjustment in the walls of the V-shaped notch or distortion of the somewhat thin metal of the type-bar, the latter occasionally sticks in the notch, or its return movement is slightly delayed due to momentary frictional retention therein, so that the type-bar does not release in time to clear, in its return movement, the forward advance printing movement of the next operated type-bar, with the result that the type faces are often damaged and the advancing type-bar is prevented from making a printing impact. Further, such frictional retention of the type-bars in the type-bar guide slows down the typing speed of the operator. In order that a typewriter should produce accurate work, however, it is essential that a minimum clearance should be allowed between-the walls of the V-notch of the guide and the typebar itself when the latter reaches its innermost printing position, and the consequent minute adjustment of the V-notch walls to ensure such accurate printing increases the tendency of the type-bar to be frictionally retained in the guide. The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages by reducing to a minimum the frictional engagement of the type-bar in the type-bar guide while ensuring accurate longitudinal spacin of the printing,

According to this invention a guide for the type-bars of a typewriter comprises a small wheel or roller pivotally carried on each of two guide arms, the peripheral faces of the rollers being of Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section of the type-bar guide to a larger scale and Fig. 4 is a side view with one of the vertical guide arms broken away.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated each of the two vertical arms I, 2 of the type-bar guide carried from the usual segment 3 is fitted at the top with a small wheel 4. The heads I a, 2a of the guide arms have relatively inclined upper faces against which the wheels 4 seat, and the peripheral faces of the wheels are frusto-conical as shown so that their opposing conoidal faces form a guide gap (1 having parallel sides, the opposing peripheral edges of the wheels 4 forming the walls being spaced apart at such a distance as to form an accurate guide for the neck of the type-bar. The wheels 4 are pivotally secured in the heads la, 2a of the guide arms by screws 5 preferably having conical heads 6, and short bosses 'I are formed on the upper surface of the wheels 4 to give a greater depth of. bearing for the conical heads of the screws. A wider slot 8 is formed between the guide arms I, 2 below the wheels 4, continuing as a narrow slot 9, spaced adjustment of the guide arms I, 2 being effected in the usual manner by means of a wedging screw H], a locking screw H being provided for setting the arms after adjustment, and in order to increase the resiliency of thearms I, 2 they may be undercut at l2 near their roots. By providing the pivotal screws 5 with conical heads, the wheels 4 being complementarily recessed, a take-up adjustment for wear is provided. A grub screw 6a may also be fitted in each guide arm head to lock the pivotal screws 5. The circular faces of the wheels or rollers may be made of any desired width, and the wheels or rollers are preferably of such a diameter that they slightly overhan the heads of the guide arms as shown at l3, Fig. 3, so ensuring that the type-bar makes contact only with the peripheral faces of the wheels or rollers. If desired the wheels or rollers may be fitted with roller bearings.

The free rotation of the wheels or rollers in either direction afiords a very easy entry and exit of the type-bar into and from the guide with a minimum of friction and so, while ensuring accuracy in the horizontal spacing of the printing, a greater speed of operation in typing is possible and any damage to the printing faces of the type because of a type-bar sticking in the guide and being hit at the rear by another type before getting clear of the type-bar guide on its return movement is avoided.

I claim:

1. A guide for the type-bars of a typewriter comprising two guide arms having their upper surfaces divergently inclined with respect to each other, and a frusto-conical roller pivotally mounted on each guide arm and supported by the inclined upper surface thereof, the opposing peripheral conoidal faces of the rollers being so relatively disposed as to form a parallel-sided guide gap for the entering type-bar.

A guide for the type-bars of a typewriter comprising two guide arms having their upper surfaces divergently inclined with respect to each other, a frusto-conical roller pivotally mounted.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 480,290 Shepard Aug, 9, 1892 735,152 Rice Aug. 4, 1903 754,271 Alexander Mar. 8, 1904 Smith Apr. 13, 1909 

